British forces helped the US in a dramatic high seas raid to intercept a rogue oil tanker bound for Russia yesterday.
The American-led operation in the North Atlantic was launched from British bases and aided by RAF spy planes and Royal Navy ships.
The capture of the Marinera – a ‘Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel’, according to the White House – brought to an end a two-week game of cat and mouse across the waves as the US chased the ageing tanker from the Caribbean.
The operation played out in the icy waters between Iceland and northern Scotland, as Moscow tried desperately to defend the ship flying under its flag with the menacing presence of a Russian submarine nearby.
Russia last night called the seizure ‘outright piracy’. But US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned: ‘Our military is prepared to continue this. The President, when he speaks, he means it. He’s not messing around. We are an administration of action to advance our interests, and that is on full display.’
The US Coast Guard (USCG) also captured a second vessel – the tanker Sophia – in the Caribbean yesterday morning. It was said to be carrying two million barrels of crude oil from Venezuela, worth more than £100million.
In the House of Commons last night, Defence Secretary John Healey described the conditions in the Atlantic operation as ‘dangerous and deteriorating’.
Mr Healey confirmed the role of British aircraft but stressed this was a US operation against a ‘falsely flagged tanker’.
British forces helped the US in a dramatic high seas raid to intercept the Marinera, a rogue oil tanker bound for Russia yesterday
The US Coast Guard (USCG) also captured a second vessel – the tanker Sophia – in the Caribbean yesterday morning
Sophia was said to be carrying two million barrels of crude oil from Venezuela, worth more than £100million. Pictured: Armed US Coast Guard officers take control of the tanker
The Marinera, previously known as the Bella 1, claimed a Russian flag in an effort to evade seizure by the US – its fifth flag change in as many years.
Mr Healey said: ‘The UK, at the request of the US, supported this operation as part of global efforts to crack down on sanction busting and shadow shipping activity.
‘The Bella 1 was falsely flagged and subject to US counter-Iran sanctions. This ship shared close links with both Iran and Russia.
‘The operation is ongoing but the Bella 1 is under the control of US forces who demonstrated immense courage and professionalism in advancing sea conditions.
‘A stateless vessel may be lawfully intercepted and boarded. Previously this vessel moved 7.3million barrels of Iranian crude oil, the proceeds of which financed terrorism and instability across the world.
‘Iran maintains support for Russia by supplying weapons for its brutal invasion of Ukraine, including its Shaheed drones and missiles that target and kill Ukrainian civilians.’
Mr Healey added degrading the Russian shadow fleet was a priority for the UK Government, as he announced new sanctions against hundreds of such vessels.
The daring operation was mounted as the vast tanker, with a deadweight in excess of 300,000 tonnes, headed for sanctuary after fleeing a US blockade around Venezuela. US aircraft took off from RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and from Wick, in the north of Scotland.
The Marinera, a Venezuelan-linked vessel previously known as Bella-1
UK military planes involved included a Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft.
Buffeted by storm-force winds and in plunging temperatures, US forces approached 1,092ft-long oil tanker in Little Bird and Blackhawk helicopters.
In footage broadcast on Russia Today, a Little Bird reconnaissance helicopter was seen off the stern of the Marinera – which can carry up to two million barrels of crude oil but is currently thought to be empty.
Minutes later personnel from the US Coast Guard launched a commando-style raid, fast-roping from Blackhawk helicopters on to the ship’s hull.
As icy rain lashed down, heavily armed USCG guards sprinted to the bridge, rapidly taking control of the vessel.
Whether shots were fired remained unclear last night. To the fury of Kremlin officials, her Russian crew was arrested.
Last night, they faced criminal charges in the US for sailing a sanctioned vessel. Russia’s foreign ministry demanded the swift return of its citizens and claimed the US and the UK’s actions breached international law.
The capture of the Marinera as it was bound for Russian waters is the second humiliation for the Kremlin within a week.
Defence Secretary John Healey said degrading the Russian shadow fleet was a priority for the UK Government, as he announced new sanctions against hundreds of such vessels
The raid followed the audacious seizure of Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro in a raid by US Special Forces in the country’s capital.
After escaping a US blockade of sanctioned ships in the Caribbean last month, the Marinera crossed the Atlantic.
The rusting tanker was previously subjected to criminal sanction for carrying Iranian oil. She has also been used to transport Venezuelan oil.
The US Coast Guard had a warrant to seize the ship, and had tried to board it in the Caribbean.
But it dramatically changed course, changed its name, and re-registered as Russian. Her crew also turned off the ship’s transponders so she was invisible on tracking systems.
When these were switched back on, the Marinera was located hundreds of miles off Ireland’s west coast.
The sighting triggered the joint US-UK operation culminating in yesterday’s raid.
A fleet of ten C-17 transport aircraft and AC-130J gunships flew from the US to the UK, landing at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.
The C-17s were carrying Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters, some of which were used in yesterday’s raid.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Tideforce, with a displacement of 39,000-tonnes, was also involved in the raid. The vessel can accommodate 63 crew members, including Royal Marines.
Mr Healey added: ‘The UK will continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy and global stability – making Britain secure at home and strong abroad. The US is the UK’s closest defence and security partner.’